Electrical apparatus support



Sept. 23, 1941. G. M ARN ET AL ELECTRICAL APPARATUS SUPPORT Filed March 22, 1939 Patented Sept. 23, 1941 Donald G. McArn, Pit

tsburgh, and John W. Mc- I Donald, West View, Pa., assignors to Allis- Ohalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application March 22, 1939, Serial No. 263,480

3 Claims.

This invention relates in general to casings for electrical apparatus and particularly to a means for supporting such casings in any one of a plurality of positions.

When electrical apparatus such as a distribution transformer is supported on a pole carrying the line to which the transformer is connected, it is desirable that the transformer can be positioned relative to the pole in any one of a number of predetermined positions. One of the determining factors as to the position of the transformer relative to the pole, is t 9 relative position of the line wire to the pole. It is desirable that the terminals of the transformer, to which the line Wires are connected, be positioned as close to the line wires as is feasible. A similar problem arises in positioning lightning arresters or similar devices on the transformer casing. These devices are usually electrically connected to the terminals of the transformer or to a line wire immediately adjacent the connection of such wire to the transformer terminal.

It is desirable from the standpoint of mass production and from the standpoint of the stock. necessarily carried by the users of transformers, that such transformers be similar in construction regardless of difference in relative positions when supported. Where the high voltage terminals of a transformer extend through the cover of a casing and the low voltage terminals extend through the side wall of the casing, it is not good engineering practice to rotate the cover relative to the casing, for the high and low voltage terminals should be spaced apart as far as possible for insulation purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a transformer supporting means which will utilize the above advantages and avoid the above disadvantages.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved supporting means for electrical apparatus in a casing which will permit supporting the casing relative to its supporting member in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a supporting means of the above type for positioning electrical devices in any one of a plurality of positions on the casing.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a transformer casing construction that can be utilized in mass production of such casings and will provide simple, rugged supporting means whereby the transformer can be positioned, relative to its supporting member, in any one of a plurality of positions.

Other objects and'advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation View of a transformer embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top View of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation View of the supporting member shown in'Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed top View of the supporting racket for the lightning arrester; and

Fig. 5 is a section view enlarged and taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2. i

In the single embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, a transformer is utilized to illustrate the invention. The transformer is encased in the casing Ill and is provided with the usual cover H, low tension terminals M and the high tension bushings l2 and terminals l3.

A supporting member l5 comprises a steel channel which can be rigidly fastened to a pole with through bolts or lag screws (not shown) by means of the hole It and the slot [1. The arrangement of the longitudinal hole l6 and the transverse slot ll provides a safety feature preventing the transformer from being dislodged from the pole when subjected to great shocks, as, for example, when the pole is hit by an automobile. When the member If is hung on a bolt so that the bolt is in the upper narrow end of the hole IS, the member i5 maybe tilted so that a second bolt or screw enters the slot I1. The member I5 is thereby prevented from movement upward, downward or outward from the pole.

The supporting member l5 has brackets l8 which, as shown, are U-shaped in cross-section and have the ends of the U Welded or similarly rigidly fastened to the member Hi. The brackets l8 are similar to the brackets 25, utilized for positioning the lightning arresters 24, and which are shown in detail in Fig. 5. The brackets l8 and 25 have alined apertures 23 in both sides of the U and these apertures are spaced as shows in Fig. 4.

The apertures 23 are spaced a distance similar to the spacing between apertures 2| in a scalloped flange 29 which is welded or similarly rigidly fastened to the casing H). The flange 20 extends around the periphery of the casing II] a substantial portion thereof. The flanges 20 are U-shaped in cross-section and are sufficiently invention has been ,will be apparent to wide to permit entrance of the brackets l8 and 25. The brackets l8 and 25 are positioned rela tive to the flanges The lightning arrester bracket 25 is welded to a plate 26 which is removably clamped to a second plate 21' by means of bolts 28. A strap 29 is welded to the plate 21 in two places as at 33 to provide an upstanding end 34. This provides two points of support for the bolts 30 which clamp the strap29 on the lightning arrester 24.

It will be noted that the casing H1 including the flanges 20 can be manufactured in mass production and can be similarly made regardless of the positions in which it may be desirable to mount the casing ID. The casing is easily and ruggedly supported on thesupporting member l by insertion of the bolts IS in the apertures 23. The

casing can be supported in the position shown in.

the drawings or it can be supported in a position up to ninety degrees in either direction from the position shown. The lightning'arresters 24 may be similarly positioned at any point on thefianges 20, the desired point being usually such as is nearest the line wire 22 so that theconnection 3| may be as short as possible. The positioning of the lightning arresters as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is for the purpose of clearness in this disclosure; in actual use these lightning arresters wouldbe positioned nearer the supporting member l5 and therefore in closer proximity to the line wire 22. If the line wire, to which the terminals l3 areto be connected, was above the transformer, as viewed in Fig. 2, the transformercasing I0 would be rotated so that the apertures 2| shown at the bottom of Fig. 2 would be utilized with the bolts I9 in supporting the casing on the supporting member IS. The transformer would then have been rotated ninety degrees in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 2.

Although but one embodiment of the present illustrated and described, it those skilled in the art that 2 0 by means of bolts such as terminal, and means any one of a plurality various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and Patent:

1. In combination, a casing for electrical apparatus, a terminal for said apparatus extending through said casing, a supporting member, an electrical device electrically connected to said for supporting said casing desired to secure by Letters on said member and for supporting said device on said casing in any one of a plurality of positions of said terminal relative to said member and said device, said means comprising a flange of U- shaped cross-section supported on said casing.

2. In combination, a transformer casing, a terminal extending through said casing, a flange of substantially U-shaped cross-section rigidly affixed to said casing and extending transversely around a substantial portion thereof, asupporting member, an electrical device, brackets of substantially U-shaped cross-section one of which is rigidly affixed to said member and another of which is rigidly affixed to said device, means for supporting said brackets in nested relation to said flange in any one of a plurality of positions of said brackets relative to said terminal.

3. In combination, a casing for electrical apparatus, a flange of substantially U-shaped crosssection rigidly afiixed to said casing and extending transversely around a substantial portion thereof, a supporting member provided with an upper longitudinally extending aperture and a lower transversely extending slot, a bracket of substantially U-shaped cross-sectionrigidly affixed to said member, and means for supporting said bracket in nested relation to said flange in of positions of said flange relative to said member.

DONALD G. MCARN. JOHN W. MCDONALD. 

